[JAPAN] 6D5N Amazing Kansai Itinerary (Wakayama, Osaka, Nara, Kobe & Kyoto)

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I spent a total of 6 days in Kansai region: half day in Wakayama, 2.5 days in Osaka, half day in Nara, half day in Kobe and 2 days in Kyoto. The pass that I used was 3 days Kansai Thru Pass which allows me to move from one city to another without hassle.

My 6 days itinerary in Kansai region as below:
Day 1
11.50am arrive Kansai Int. Airport -> Wakayama Kishigawa line (visit Ni-tama and ride Tamaden & Ichigoden) -> check in Hotel Mystays Shinsaibashi -> shopping at Shinsaibashi -> takoyaki at Honke Ootako stall & dinner at Dotonbori
Day 2
Harukas 300 (9am-10pm) -> breakfast at HARBS -> Osaka Castle (9am-5pm, last entry 4.30pm) -> lunch at Yukari Sonezaki honten, Umeda -> Museum of Housing & Living (10am-5pm, 4pm last yukata rental) -> Kuromon Market -> Umeda sky garden -> dinner at Ichiran Ramen Shinsaibashi
Day 3
Universal Studio Japan – Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey -> lunch at Three Broomsticks -> Backdraft -> Despicable Me Minion Mayhem -> afternoon tea at American diner -> sukiyaki dinner at Dotonbori
Day 4
10am Breakfast at Pablo café -> Todaiji (8am-4.30pm) & deer park at Nara -> 3pm lunch at Elk café -> Alice on Wednesday (10am – 7.30pm) at Amerika-mura -> check in APA Hotel Kobe-Sannomiya -> Kobe Harbourland -> kobe beef dinner at Ryu-en
Day 5
Check in Super Hotel Shijyo Kawaramachi –> Hanamikoji street –> 11am Breakfast at Gion Tsujiri -> 1pm kimono rental at Mission Gion -> Fushimi Inari -> Kiyomizudera (6am-6pm) -> 6pm return kimono -> udon dinner at Gion Kyomen -> shopping at Shijo street
Day 6
Nishiki Market (close on Wed, 9am-5pm) -> Tenryu-ji Temple garden (8.30am-5.30pm) -> Arashiyama bamboo grove -> lunch at Saga Tofu Ine (North Store) Arashiyama –> Togetsukyo bridge –> Kyoto station –> Geisha spotting at Hanami-Koji, Gion -> unagi rice at Izumoya Pontocho -> 10.05pm Willers Express night bus to Shinjuku

Day 1: Kansai International Airport –> Wakayama –> Osaka

The first place I went after arriving in Kansai International Airport is Kansai Tourist Information Center on the ground floor. This is the place where you can purchase all kind of pass and tours including Osaka Amazing Pass, Universal Studio ticket and etc.

Kansai Airport station is on the first floor. Just follow the signage and you can reach there easily.

You can either choose Nankai train or JR train to reach Osaka. For more details on the transport guide in Kansai, please refer to my previous post here.

Using the Kansai Thru Pass, I first hopped on a Nankai to reach Wakayamashi station and transfer to JR line to reach Wakayama station. Wakayama station is connected to Kishigawa line which has the cute Tamaden. The station master of Kishi station is a cat called Nitama and the building of Kishi Station is cat-face-shaped! It is recommended to buy a One-day-pass which costs 780 yen for adult and 390 yen for child.

Arriving in Osaka in the evening and heading to the hotel. Hotel Mystays Shinsaibashi is conveniently located within 5 minutes walking distance from Shinsaibashi subway station exit 7 or 8. Just cross the road and walk straight in between OPA mall and Nikko Hotel.

The location of Hotel Mystays Shinsaibashi is circled in red in map above. There are three popular area for hotels in Osaka: Namba area, Shinsaibashi area and Umeda area. All these areas are well connected with train and subway, close to many shops and restaurants. If you love shopping, definitely consider staying in Shinsaibashi area.

About 2 more minutes and you’ll see Hotel Mystays Shinsaibashi on your left.

I booked a Standard Semi-double room for 3 nights. On average, 1 night costs about 8,100 yen. The room looks new and clean. It has kettle, safe and mini bar. The toilet of the hotel room with bath tub. I had a very comfortable stay in this hotel. Check latest hotel room rate at Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia.

The night was still young and I went to the famous Shinsaibashi shopping street to do some shopping.

The Glico sign of Shinsaibashi.

Dotobonri-gawa canal.

Dotonbori is a foodie heaven. It is also known for its giant attention-grabbing food signage above the restaurants.

This is a restaurant specializing in Kushikatsu where you’re not allowed to dip in the sauce twice! Or else, the restaurant owner would show an angry face as shown on the exterior of the restaurant, haha.

One of the must eat street food in Osaka is takoyaki. I tried it at Honke Ootako stall which is a popular takoyaki stall at Dotonbori.

Tried Kushikatsu at a restaurant in Dotobonri. Best fried food I’ve eaten!

Day 2: Osaka Amazing Pass

Explored Osaka with Osaka Amazing Pass which includes free admission to 35 attractions and unlimited ride with Osaka buses and train, plus discount coupons. Osaka Amazing 1 Day Pass: 2,500 yen.

The easiest way to get around in Osaka is using the subway. You can get to most attraction by using subway except for Universal Studio where you must take JR train. See subway map above.

"Harukas 300" is the highest observation deck in Osaka. It is a “Lover’s Sanctuary”, a perfect spot for marriage proposal.
Opening hours: 9.00 a.m. to 22.00p.m. all year round
Admission: 1,500 yen
Website: https://www.abenoharukas-300.jp/en/observatory/

Enjoyed a breakfast at HARBS in the Kintetsu department store before heading to the next destination, Osaka Castle.

Osaka Castle was the largest castle at the time when it was first built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last admission is 4.30 p.m.
Admission fee: 600 yen, free with Osaka Amazing Pass
Website: https://www.osakacastle.net/english/
Nishinomaru Garden
Opening hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last admission is 4.30 p.m. Opens until 9 p.m. during cherry blossom season
Admission fee: 200 yen, free with Osaka Amazing Pass, 350 yen during the extended hours of cherry blossom season

Had okonomiyaki and fried noodles as lunch at Yukari Sonezaki honten, located in the middle of Higashi Dori shopping street close to Higashi Umeda station.

Tried on the yukata while strolling in the replica town in the late Edo period at Osaka Museum of Housing and Living.
Entrance fee: 600 yen (adult), 300 yen (student), free admission for Osaka Amazing Pass holder for regular exhibition
Opening time: 10am to 5pm (last entrance 4.30pm), closed on Tuesdays.
Access: Hankyu and subway line Tenjimbashisuji6-chome station exit No.3
Website: http://konjyakukan.com/

A walk through Kuromon Ichiba Market, “Osaka’s kitchen”.
Opening time: around 9am to 6pm
Getting there: subway line Nippombashi station.

Umeda Sky Building offers an unobstructed 360-degree view of Osaka cityscape.
Floating Garden Observatory opening times: 9.30am to 10.30pm (last entrance 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: 1,000 yen or free with Osaka Amazing Pass holders
Getting there: about 9 minutes walk northwest from Hankyu, Hanshin & subway line Umeda station

Unique ramen experience at Ichiran Ramen Shinsaibashi, famous for its tonkutso ramen.

Day 3: Universal Studio

Visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and tried its most popular ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.
Admission fee: normal entrance ticket – 7,038 yen per adult. Fast Pass is sold separately.
Opening time: typically 8.30am to 9am.
Getting there: JR Osaka Loop line to Nishikujo station and change to JR Yumesaki line to Universal City station.

Had lunch at Three Broomsticks. Butterbeer is a must-try drink at Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Minion Park is another highlight in the Universal Studio Japan. It was raining whole day but we had a fun day at Universal Studio Japan.

Day 4: Nara –> Amerikamura –> Kobe

Had mouth-watering cheese tart for breakfast at Pablo cafe. The cafe opens from 9am to 10pm.

Day trip to Nara, famous for its hundreds of freely roaming deer in Nara Park. 2 ways to get there from Osaka:
1) JR Nara line: Osaka station to Nara station (approx. 50 min, 800 yen) / Tennoji station to Nara station (approx. 35 min, 470 yen)
2) Kintetsu Nara line: Namba station to Nara station (approx. 40 min, 560 yen)
Once you are there, it's easy to get around to the various attraction on foot.

Todaiji houses the second largest Buddha statue in Japan and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Opening hours:
7:30 to 17:30 (April to October)
8:00 to 17:00 (November to March)
No closing days

Admission:
Buddha hall only: ¥600 Adults, ¥300 Children.
Buddha hall and Todaiji museum: ¥1000 Adults, ¥400 Children.

Elks café in Amerikamura offers 3D foam coffee and fluffy pancakes.

Shopped at “Alice on Wednesday”, an Alice-themed shop selling Alice-themed merchandise before moving to Kobe.

Two must-do things in Kobe is to visit Kobe Harbourland at the waterfront and to eat Kobe beef.
Getting to Kobe Harbourland:
JR Kobe Station on the JR Kobe Line, or Kobe Subway Kaigan line to Harborland station.

Had kobe beef for dinner at Ryu-en restaurant, facing the waterfront.

Stay overnight at APA Hotel Kobe Sannomiya, 5 minute walk from the Sannomiya station. 1 night cost about 7,500 yen. Check latest hotel room rate at Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia.

Day 5: Kobe –> Kyoto

Checking in to Super Hotel Shijyo Kawaramachi.

The interior of double room. Hotel guests will be given a 6-digit password to unlock the room door upon check-in. They also have a free hot spring for hotel guest. Women and men has different time slot to use the hot spring. Women (3pm to 4.50pm, 8pm to 10.50pm, 7am to 9.30am) and men (5pm to 7.50pm, 11pm to 6.50am the next day). 1 night cost about 11,750 yen. Check latest hotel room rate at Agoda, Booking.com or Expedia.

The location of Super Hotel Shijyo Kawaramachi is circled in red in map above. There are many hotels in Kawaramachi area. It is close to Gion area. Most people would chose to stay here or nearby the Kyoto station.

The nearest train station to the hotel is Kawaramachi station.

The hotel has a free weighting machine at the corridor.

For ladies, you can take a special beauty pack including a facial mask! Unbeatable location and comfortable room. Recommended.

Strolled along Hanamikoji street, the famous street for geiko spotting.

Had dessert as breakfast at Gion Tsujiri .

Mission Gion, the kimono rental I chose in Gion area. Unfortunately, the shop is now closed.

Changing into kimono before exploring Kyoto.

My first stop is Fushimi Inari, the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. The senbon torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha is simply breath-taking. Best of all, the shrine is open all year round and there's no admission fee. You can get there either by taking JR line to Inari station or taking the Keihan Main Line to Fushimi Inari Station.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a must visit temple in Kyoto. Then continue to stroll at Sanneizaka and Nineizaka which has world’s first Starbucks joint with tatami seating.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple opens at 6am everyday. The closing time differs depending on the season.
Admission fee: 400 yen

Had udon dinner set at Gion Kyomen before retiring to hotel.

Day 6: Kyoto

It was a rainy day. Since Nishiki Market is a covered market, I could visit it at ease. I bought some cute chopstick rest here.

Then, I headed to Arashiyama and visited the beautiful garden of Tenryu-ji Temple.
Opening time of Tenryuji Temple (21 October – 20 March):
Sogenchi Garden (main gate): 8.30am – 5pm (last entry 4.50pm)
Sogenchi Garden (north gate): 9am – 4.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Temple: 8.30am – 4.45pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Dharma Hall: 9am – 4pm (last entry 3.50pm)
Admission fee: garden + temple is 800 yen (adult) and 600 yen (child), garden only 500 yen (adult). Dharma Hall (Cloud Dragon painting) - additional 500 yen.

The bamboo grove is another place not to be missed while in Arashiyama.

Had lunch at at Saga Tofu Ine (North Store), located at the main street of Arashiyama. I ordered the Teoke Kumiage Yuba set (thick soy milk skin in a tub).